Understanding Pottery Chapter 8 Glaze Chemistry Part 1

Welcome to Understanding Pottery, Chapter 8: Glaze Chemistry Part 1 of 2. In this video you will learn about the different materials that are used in glazes and what the role is in the glaze. This is the second chapter in the section titled Use of Raw Materials.
The next topic in the series is Oxides, Washes, Underglazes and Stains.
Understanding Pottery is a series in production by Washington Street Studios. The video series is a digital textbook that will take you through the entire ceramic process from the raw material through the finished ceramic pieces. There are five sections and twenty-six chapters planned in the series and they are:
Section I: The Pottery Making Sequence
Chapter 1: What is Clay?
Chapter 2: Clay Properties and Drying
Chapter 3: Bisque Firing
Chapter 4: Tips for Successful Glazing
Chapter 5: Pyrometric Cones
Chapter 6: Glaze Firing
Section II: Use of Raw Materials
Chapter 7: Chemistry for Potters
Chapter 8: Glaze Chemistry
Chapter 9: Oxides, Washes, Underglazes and Stains
Chapter 10: Geology for Potters
Chapter 11: Use of Local Materials
Section III: Kilns and Firings
Chapter 12: Atmospheric Firings
Chapter 13: Wood-Fired Kilns
Chapter 14: Gas-Fired Kilns
Chapter 15: Electric Kilns
Chapter 16: Raku Kilns
Section IV: Solving Problems
Chapter 17: Kiln Performance Problems
Chapter 18: Clay Body Defects
Chapter 19: Glaze Defects
Section V: Practical Applications
Chapter 20: Pottery Myths, Errors and Misconceptions
Chapter 21: Thixotropy, Quartz Inversions and Other Pottery Mysteries
Chapter 22: Pottery and Physics
Chapter 23: Pottery Figurin’ (Math)
Chapter 24: Personal Safety with Pottery
Chapter 25: Critiquing Your Own Pottery: Design Principles You Can Use
Chapter 26: Tips for Buying Used Pottery Equipment
Show notes can be found at www.hfclay.com/the-potters-ro...
The Potters’ Round Table is brought to you by Washington Street Studios, a community pottery studio, gallery, and pottery school located in Harpers Ferry / Bolivar, WV. We exist to provide ceramic artists an affordable, fully equipped studio space for aspiring, emerging and established artists to share their creative energy and knowledge in an environment designed to support the ceramic artist. If you want to learn more about Washington Street Studios, visit our website at www.hfclay.com/.
At Washington Street Studios, we believe the sharing of creative energy and knowledge will improve the quality of our art and increase the appreciation of art within our community. We are striving to create an environment where the arts are shared and appreciated. We want to grow as a family of artists and contribute to our community. This podcast is one of our steps to share our passion for the ceramic arts, creative energy and knowledge with other artists and art lovers.
We also created an audio version to expand our audience. If you are looking for the podcast of our show search for the ‘The Potters Round Table’ on your podcast platform of choice.

[@paulauksztulewicz7381]

This lecture and information for understanding glaze chemistry is absolute gold! Thank you so much!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

I totally agree. This is Phil's best competency, he mixes all our glazes and fixes recipes brought in by our members. It is pure gold!

[@michellemooney1460]

It sure is. I went to the website and tried to download and open the link on reduction firing but can't get it to download.

[@t.l.c.5510]

Thanks for this. Been a blacksmith and knife maker for over a decade and am unable to continue so am going to start pottery. These videos make the learning curve so much shorter. Much appreciated.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Perfect! Best of luck on your new adventures and let us know if we can help. Please share the channel with your friends and fellow artists to help us grow our community.

[@parinaztayyebi337]

I can't thank you enough for making this great series! It's super clear and helpful!I never thought I could really understand the chemistry behind glazes🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Parinaz Tayyebi, Thank you for the encouragement, we are all very lucky that Phil shared his wisdom with us!

[@hkhodges8487]

Incredible teaching!! I have been reading and watching videos on making glazes for months now and this was the clearest and most usable instruction I have found.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you HK Hodges, please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow the community. Enjoy all the videos.

[@user-pe1gv7iq7i]

This was the best video I have watched about glaze chemistry. Thank you so much.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

You are most welcome, enjoy all the videos!

[@TheDuckofDoom.]

49:00 There may be a substantial oversight, that description is for Sodium Bentonite, but there is also Calcium Bentonite which is has very different properties. some of those recipes that call for high amounts of bentonite are probably using Ca Bentonite. They have the same base chemical backbone structure but one has Sodium stuffed between the layers which allows very strong water absorption and the other is stuffed with Ca giving it a much more stable physical structure. Sodium bentonite is used for many industrial applications due to its gelling and expansive qualities.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks

[@katiez5660]

I majored in chemistry and I want to learn about ancient pottery. I’m so glad I found your site. Refreshing.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Cool.

[@franceslandfear557]

Gold. These videos are answering so many of my questions. Even some I didn’t know I had. And confirming a few of my suspicions and intuition. Thanks for such thoughtful classes and sharing them!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Frances, Thank you for the compliment and for watching our videos! Please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our channel. And let us know if you have any topics you would like us to cover! Keep watching.

[@aaronbowden7151]

Wow, Amazing- I needed this Glaze chemistry information! Thank you, thank you. I'm feeling less fear about starting to make my own glazes.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Aaron, we are glad you found the information useful, let us know if you have questions!

[@NeffTattoo]

This is amazing! I learned more about glaze chemistry than when I earned my Ceramics BFA!!!!!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Awesome! The Understanding Pottery series takes you through all the topics in a typical BFA program. Phil does a really good job on these videos! Enjoy and share them with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

By the way, I've never seen a tattoo artist in action before, just watched your time-lapse video, pretty cool!

[@safyahmed3638]

I can't thank you enough; You are a great teacher, thank you.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Safy, you are most welcome! Please keep watching and share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community.

[@safyahmed3638]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios sure, just shared ♥

[@rafaelm2005]

Just starting to get into pottery, and I find these lectures very instructive.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for the encouragement and please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters!

[@karinacampos130]

THANKS SO MUCH. I love every episode! Regards from Argentina!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Awesome! They will keep on coming, at least until we are too old! Thank you for extending our international reach in our community and keep watching! I hope all is well with you in Argentina.

[@shanikayeomans2488]

Absolutely fantastic tutorial. I love it. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

We love making the videos, please share them with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community!

[@lindatortorice9356]

Watching glaze chapters second time and picking up more. Great video for understanding glazes.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Linda, Thank you for the support and encouragement! We really enjoy making these videos and have had much opportunity during the pandemic since our classes have been cancelled! We started the videos to keep a record and then decided to add them to KZbin and it's been great! If you have suggestions for future topics, let us know and we'll be happy to provide some education and training!

[@baumes]

Wow such knowledge shared for free !!!! Thank you so much

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

We are happy to be able to share Phil's wisdom and carry on his legacy!

[@rondacorkhill1654]

Now that I have my own glaze ingredients, this was an awesome refresher. I recently saw a recipe for colminite.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Making your own glazes is both awesome and humbling! Enjoy the adventure and don't hesitate to ask if you have questions. [e-mail]

[@saama718]

I'm just a newbie, I was looking for glazing in sanitaryware and I ended up being here. This gentleman is absolutely amazing. Wish him good health.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Sorry, Phil passed away last year, he will live on here!

[@saama718]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios Oh so sad to know that, may he rest in peace. And yes his legacy will continue

[@carolannparker-vancleve901]

It might be more advantageous to the observer if you put an overlay of the recipes on the video in order for rookies like myself, to grasp the recipe conversion a bit easier. These videos are priceless.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks Carol, we are still relatively new at this and I like the suggestion. I don't believe we can edit the videos once they are posted, but I will check.

[@maemae1752]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios I tried to go to your site to find the link to the notes he is speaking to but it only led to your landing page. Those notes would be an invaluable accompaniment to these videos. Wonderful content

[@AlPal4554]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for watching. Your turn to share, please share our channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community!

[@matospma]

Amazing lecture! Thank you for publishing

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

You're most welcome! I hope you enjoy all the videos.

[@bluebelllg]

Thank you for this video. The explanation is so good.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Hopefully you will find all the videos helpful! Keep watching.

[@Dovid2000]

Excellent lecture, as usual!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you for the encouragement!

[@nitalabuschange8124]

Thank you so much for this .

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Nita, thank you for watching and please share with your friends and fellow potters.

[@imkejassmann7106]

Wow, this was exactly what I needed in my learning process! It was not also interesting and informative but a real joy and fun to listen to the teacher, even for me as a german ceramist. Thanks so much for these videos! They are highly appreciated!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Imke Jassmann, Thank you for the encouragement, be sure to share the channel with your friends and fellow potters and enjoy the rest of the videos!

[@freddiemoretti8456]

Really enjoyed the video although I only use brush on glazes. Has given me an expanded view of glazes. Cheers and be well...Freddie.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks Freddie, we appreciate the feedback! keep watching.

[@ionelima9637]

LOVE THANKS

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for watching

[@victoriakety3453]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you! The Glaze Chemistry chapter is the most popular, thanks for watching.

[@JamesJohnson-zl5sr]

This is a really great series and great content. Is it possible to get a copy of the handouts that were referenced in the video?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Phil passed away and we are going through his files, hopefully they will be available soon.

[@ohvnaq]

i think in the example with the balls in the beginning, it should be "molecules" instead of "atoms". in any case, fantastic contents, thank you!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Yes, you are correct! Thanks for the encouragement! Keep on watching.

[@VFXited]

At 30:42 in video he says there’s an additional handout of common glaze ingredients. This has been missed out of the downloadable handout, would it possible to have a copy added to the downloadable list please? Also in the next video part 2 (from 41:05 to 46:10), the discussed glazes he has in his own handout are not in the downloadable version making it hard to follow. Thanks so much for these amazing videos, you’ve helped me learn so much!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Again, sorry, I'll find and upload the correct handouts.

[@dr.rchemcourse814]

This lecture series is just fantastic! I'm so glad to have stumbled onto it. And Phil is an amazing instructor! I tried looking for the downloadable glaze recipes, but could not find them? Can anyone help me locate them? Thank you so much!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Dr. R Chem Course, sorry for the confusion! I edit my own website and sometimes I miss some things! Handouts can be found here: www.hfclay.com/handouts and I've added a link to the Potters' Round Table page on the website.

[@FruitMuff1n]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios Hello, my husband is loving this series so far, there don't seem to be any files at the link you posted anymore :(

[@drakekoefoed1642]

i have been wood firing a local terra cotta at low temperature, the fire sometimes melts an aluminum can which i think is 660c. I would like a glaze so i can use it for coffee cups, but it looks like a huge project.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Agreed, finding a food safe glaze for this environment would be difficult. You should search commercial glazes or glazey.org for recipes. Phil passed away last July and he was the glaze expert!

[@monikawillis9616]

I've looked for the handout from this on your website but I can't find it. I'd love to find it. It's such an in-depth explanation.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Yes, sorry about that. Phil passed away and I am trying to keep the business going. The channel, unfortunately, takes a back seat. I just checked the website and see the problem, I just don't know how to fix it. I will let you know when it is resolved.

[@monikawillis9616]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios gosh i'm so sorry for your loss. either way the video is very informative.

[@artoflife109]

Great class! Lovin it. But please do something with that loud door xD

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for the support and encouragement! Since the pandemic we've moved to our member studio from our classroom and there are less distracting noises. Plus we've decided to prerecord our videos with no audience which means the doors don't open and close so much. Unfortunately about 50 of the videos were already recorded! Hopefully the content surpasses the distractions!

[@artoflife109]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios it does!

[@tracyholmes9605]

Hi and thank you for the brilliant videos..can I ask if you have any idea what the best Kaolin in England is as a substitute for EPK

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

tracy holmes, sorry but I don't. Phil would probably have known, but he passed away last July. I would search for a Kaolin or China Clay on the internet. I did a quick search and found a supplier, unfortunately they were sold out.

[@sandyfeat]

I've run across a raku glaze recipe for white crackle that that doesn't have weight or percent on it. Thing is, it adds up to 100, but there is Tin Oxide in it (I believe that's a colorant). I saw the part in the video where Mr. Berneburg discusses this problem, but without his handout I couldn't quite understand it. I'd really appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks for everything y'all do! Recipe: Greatly borate - 65, Tenn. ball clay - 5, Neph. Sy. - 15, Tin oxide - 10, Flint - 5

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

It as written as percentages, and Tin Oxide is used as an opacifier. There are no colorants in the recipe.

[@sandyfeat]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios I see, thanks to much!

[@britoronto6628]

I'd also like access to the handouts--learning so much but it is hard without the visuals.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Bri Toronto, follow the link: www.hfclay.com/handouts

[@Fanama7]

Wonderful thank you! Is there an way to acquire the script you are referring to?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Sorry, Phil passed away last July and I don't have all his notes. The originated in his teaching career and he kept them at his studio, not at Washington Street Studios.

[@Fanama7]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios I am so sorry to hear that! !! I was being worried because there were no more videos uploaded. This is a huge loss. My condoléances to his family and all that were close to him as well as the pottery community 🌺

[@yTan-rs2uk]

Hello! I’m trying to make a glaze using oyster shells for my 10th grade thesis as silica causes silicosis. I would like to know how to make one, would it be alright if you would give me instructions on how to make one?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

An ambitious project, unfortunately Phil passed away last year and won't be able to help. I do not possess his knowledge of glaze chemistry. I suggest glazey.org as a great place to learn more about glazes.

[@glendaneaton9646]

I can find the handout file with handouts for the “ what glaze recipes can tell you” youtube, but I can’t find the handouts for this video. All the handouts in the handout library are from March 2021.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Not all lectures have handouts. Phil had instructor notes that he did not want published. Sorry, I don't have handouts for this lecture.

[@glendaneaton9646]

@@WashingtonStreetStudios thank you. The two parts have been most informative. As a chemistry teacher, I leaned a lot!

[@mareemcdonald9118]

Great vid..am i able to obtain the notes by any chance TIA

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

I plan to make them available when I find them. Phil passed away last July and I have his file cabinet of notes. He was a paper guy and hated computers! When I find them and I find time, I will scan them in and make them available.

[@user-nh9wj5bw7t]

If a "rock" was one mineral what would it be?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Depends on which rock, i guess!

[@ueckbueck]

1:00:02

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Albany Slip?

[@arenasartgalleryl]

Some students are visual learners. Demo your instructions on the board to reach more students.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@rogerhagger7967]

. throughout the video I can hear a door squeaking in the background - when somebody opens it! How about some lubricant oil for the bloody door ?

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Sorry about that Roger, we were having a potluck and an in-person lecture, there were about 30 visitors and the doors were busy. The Pandemic has solved much of that problem for us. And I did add some oil to the hinges!

[@jamesewins1125]

Setting the main ingredient to 100 % and the others a portion of the main is a bakers method, not ceramic.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

OK?